Woodward Gallery opens the Fall 2018 Art Season with "Iconic" a group Exhibition with works from Jean-Michel Basquiat, Thomas Buildmore, Crash, Robert Indiana, Jasper Johns, Rupert Jasen Smith, and Andy Warhol. While each of these Artists are certainly iconic in their own right, our exhibition explores the emblematic content in their works of art.

Rupert Jasen Smith depicts Greta Garbo after Andy Warhol's Greta Garbo Suite. This version shows the beautiful Greta Garbo in red from cult classic The Kiss, as legendary character Madame Irene Guary, from the 1929 film directed by Jacques Feyder. Basquiat symbolizes famous negro athlete baseball players with celebrated status. Andy Warhol's 1965 Souper Dress was an advertising campaign with Campbell's Soup (by mailing in Campbell's Soup Can labels and $1.00.USD the popular soup label was printed as a vintage screenprint on cellulose Aline Dress) for all to own.

Crash's 1988 Dick Tracy II is from a 1931 tough and intelligent police detective comic strip created by Chester Gould. Crash's 1988 portrayal of the classic detective renews its relevance as an important symbol of justice especially in the current state of US affairs. Thomas Buildmore paints a cartoon version of The Last Supper with quintessential figures: Jesus, Jessica Rabbit from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, McDonald's Hamburglar, Family Guy's dog Brian Griffin, and others who unite together over popcorn and hotdogs as Schroeder from Charles Shulz's Peanuts entertains the guests playing his miniature piano.

These beloved memories from popular culture serve as iconic symbols in our collective consciousness. They are ingrained in our American psyche and offer a seminal look through decades of our history.